Lawn mower



July 12, 1949. E. B. MCCARTNEY LAWN MOWER 8 Shee-ts-Sheet 1 Filed 00T.. 21, 1944 l July 12, 1949.` E. B. MCCARTNEY 1 2,475,671 1 LAWN MowER Filed 0.21.21, 1944 `8 sheets-sheet 2 1 o- Inventur ELB. McCar-tne 5 Aitor-megs.

8 Sheets-Sheet July 12, 1949. E. B. MccARTNEY f LAWN MowER Filed oct. 2'1, 1944 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 ap E. B. MccARTNEY LAWN MOWER July 12, 1949.

Filed 00h21, 1944 @ON NN MIr/-ertorc orneg www@ Attorneys.

B5 www@ 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 E. B. MCCARTNEY LAWN MOWER LAWN MOWER Filed Oct. 21, 1944 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 July l2, 1949. E. B. MccARTNEY 2,475,671

, LAWN MowER Filed Oct. 21, 1944 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 i Inventor E B. MC Ccxrtneg Patented July 12, 1949 lLAWN MOWER Elmer B. McCartney, Minneapolis, Minn., as-

ysignor to Toro Manufacturing Corporation of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation `of .Minnesota Application -ctober`21, 1944, Serial No. 559,698

13 Claims.

This invention relates :to improved mowing machines and particularly -to mowing .machines wherein the mowing unit or units are :carried by and articulated on a small and compact traction vehicle, and power for `operating the rotary reel or other cutting element is vsupplied to the mowing unit or units .from said vehicle. This invention has `particular applicability to mowing machines 4of the type described in Patent 2,299,859, issued October 27 1942, to Ralph W. Speiser, and -is `an improvement of machines of that type.

In .mowing machinesof the type shown in said Speiser Patent .2,299,-859 the weight of the individual mowing units '.is largely carried by the traction vehicle. Each .mowing unit has a .ground roller or skid which y,carries a small fraction of the weight of the unit, but most of the Weight is transferred to the traction Vehicle, and since each mowing unit .must be articulated `for up and down movement of the unit with reference tothe traction vehicle, there are provided direct acting springs which support the front mower unit, the two rear units being mounted upon an articulated sub-frame which is likewise springsupported Eby `the traction vehicle.

IIt is an object of the present invention to provide a more `uniform lifting force between the 'traction vehicle and Athe `mowing units to the end .that .they may provide uniform ground pressure via the ground roller .o'f each unit under all conditions `of operation, and so avoid skipping, bouncing, .uneven contact and other types of malfunctioning `even at high speeds over irregular terrain.

Itis `alsoan object .of the vinvention to provide a lifting device foreach side mower unit, capable of being operated vfrom the seat of the machine, and `capable of `locking the Yside units in -vertical position for transportation, trimming or the like.

:It valso an object of the invention to provide an automatic `sub-trame `lift whereby the entire sub-.trame `is lhoisted when the side mower units are zelevated.

Other and `further objects of the invention include the provision Aof a separable main frame, affording `manufacturing economies and `adapt-- ability 4tc varying installations; automatic belt tension release rin Mthe drive between Isub-frame jack-shaitso 'as `to allow lifting lof the side mowers-without removal ci the reel-shaft drive belts, andthe eprovisicn of an improved articulated support for the 'sub-:frame and front mower unit so as torovercomefallltendency :of the wing mow- `2 ers to lift `:at one side or maintain uneven contact `at high speeds.

:Other and lfurther objects :of fthe invention are those 'inherent :in 4the `apparatus illustrated, rdescribed fand claimed.

The invention `is illustrated `by the :drawings .in which Figure v1 is :a side elevational view;

Figure 2 is a `front `elevational viewof 'the traction unit and front mower, the rear sub-frame and wing `mowers being removed;

Figure 3 -is 4a -rear `'elevational "view of the Itraction unit, sub-frame and wing mowers, the 'lett wing `mower being lifted to transporting position and the right wing Vmower lowered 'to cutting position, the `f-rontmower `not being shown;

Figure 4 -is `a fragmentary plan View -of the wing :mower .llirftihandles `with certain parts rremoved for purposes fof Iclarity of :the drawings.;

.Figure -5 is related to Figure `i and is a fragmentary side selevation, fpartly Jin section, `oi" `the wing mowerfli-ft handle, the fsecton -of this figure being along :line 5--5 of rFigure f4;

lFigure 6 is related `to `Figures 4 m`and .aandis a sectional `view taken along 'the Yline 6 6 lof Figure 5.

Figure 7 `is -an enlarged `fragmentary -plan view of the rear portion of the traction vehicle lframe, sub-frame and a .portion Tof .each wing mower, Figure `9` being la corresponding enlarged .fragmentary plan view .of .theifront ,part of said frame and the front mower;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary `.plan View `of the V-shaped `(upper) radius rod .mounting of Athe rear sub-frame; l

Figure 10 fis-an enlarged fragmentary side .elevational view, partly infsection -of the rear portion of rthe traction vehicle, sub-frame and one lwing mower, -showing particularly .the `spring support for the sub-frame, .taken substantially along the longitudinal ,of the vehicle;

Figure 11is anenlarged fragmentary side `elevational view, partly .in section of the ,forward part `of the traction vehicle, showing the `sub-- frame r-a-ndvone rear (wing.) mower and the `front mower, taken-substantiallyfon lines .I I-I I of `.Figures 7 and `9. @Figures 10 and `1.1 are both taken from the right side of the vehicle;

Figures 13 15 are fragmentary views. Figure 13 is an isometric view of the ,front `part of the mower frame, with Lmost of the apparatus removed therefrom.; Figure 14 isa icorrespondingly sized isometric view of the sub-frame, with the variousparts Iremovedtherefrom; Figure 15 .is a correspondingly .sized fragmentary isometric View of the inner end of the right-hand wing mower, as would be connected to the sub-frame of Figure 14.

Figure 12 and Figures 16, 17 and 18 have to do with the spring mower supports. Figure 12 is an enlarged side elevational View in the direction of arrows on line |2|2 of Figure 9, showing the spring support for the front mower. Figure 16 is an enlarged view of the type also shown in Figures l, 10 and 1l. Figures 1'1 and 18 show two modifications of link hitch between the subframe and the spring operated lever arm of the sub-frame lift.

Throughout the drawings, corresponding numerals refer to the same parts.

Tractor frame and steering structure The traction and transport vehicle is a fourwheeled apparatus comprising a frame generally designated I8 having a pair of dual forward driving wheels |||`2 and |3|4 and a trailing set of tandem caster-mounted steering wheels i and |1. The main frame structure is best illustrated in Figures 1, 10, 11 and 13. The frame consists of a forward cross piece 20 which is preferably integrally formed with rearwardly extending side pieces 2| and 22. The side pieces 2| and 22 are joined together 'by a central transverse frame member 24 which is preferably a piece of square steel tubing attached to the side pieces 2| and 22. At the middle of the central transverse frame member 24 there is an upstanding gusset plate 25 which is strongly braced by the member 26. To the gusset plate 25 there is bolted a detachable plate 23 which is held in place by bolts 21 and to the deta-chable plate there is attached a rearwardly extending central frame member 28 which is likewise preferably of square tubular cross section. The central frame member 28 is curved downwardly at its rear end and terminates on a spring housing 29 which is formed integrally with a vertical pivot post 38, the latter serving as a coupling for the caster type trailing bogie unit 35. The provision of the separable joint at plates 23 and 25 is especially helpful in reducing manufacturing costs, since the jigs for welding are mu-ch simpler. Furthermore, the provision of a separable joint at this point allows the front and rear frame pieces to be divided and re-,combined with other units in other combinations. Thus, a simple single-mowing unit mower may be substituted for the multiple-mowing unit mower here shown.

The trailing steering bogie unit generally designated 35 consists of a central frame 35 having a forwardly positioned and upwardly extending pivot pin 31 which is received in the pivot post 3!! (see Figure 10). The pivot pin 31 is received in ball-bearing units 34-34 and is provided with a cap 38 which is held in place by cap screw 39.

The pivot shaft 31 is bent at right'angles and extends rearwardly so as to form a mounting upon which an axle unit 4|! is attached. The mounting shaft 4| is provided with a permanently fastened collar 42 and a removable collar 43 that is held in place by bolt 44. Upon the mounting shaft 4|' there is placed a tubular member 45 which is held. in the shaft by the collar l43 and to the tubular member 45 there is permanently attached an axle 48 upon which the wheels I6 and |1 are attached in customary fashion. In this way the pair of wheels i8 and |1 are free to rock about the shaft 4| in conformance with irregular terrain. Extending above the frame 36 there is a seat spring 41 having an under-leaf 41', Vthe springs 41 and 41 being held in place by being apertured and passed over the post 31 and then clamped by the through bolt 48. At the upper end of spring member 41 there is an operator seat |49.

Extending upwardly from the central frame member 28 there is a fixed steering column 52 upon which rearwardly extending handle bars 53 are fixedly mounted. The handle bars are equipped with handle grips 54. From the frame member 36 of the bogie truck there is a forwardly extending foot rest frame 55 upon which foot pieces 5B are adapted to be mounted. Steering of the trailing bogie unit 35 with respect to the frame l0 is accomplished by the reaction of the operators hand upon the steering grips 54. Hence, as the vehicle proceeds, steering is accomplished by the operator swinging the seat 49 and hence the unit 35 to the right or to the left. Since the operator seat 49 is farther away from the pivot post 38 than the wheels |5-I1, the reactive steering force of the operator upon the seat 48 is to some extent multiplied and easy steering is accomplished.

Power source and power transmission At the forward part of the main frame there is mounted a power source generally designated 88, this being preferably a one or two cylinder air cooled gasoline engine having an integral speed reduction gear. The engine is carried between the forward bracket 6| which is at the middle of the forward cross piece 20 of the frame, Figure 13, and a rear engine bracket 52, carried on the cross frame member 24. The gusset plate 25 serves to support a sub-assembly of vertical posts 25', Figures 1-3, having semi-circular upper portions 64 and 65 upon which gasoline tank and tool hatch |58 of the engine are mounted.

The drive shaft of the engine is at the righthand side of the unit, the drive shaft being indicated at 18, Figure 2. Upon the drive shaft there is mounted a reverse gear generally designated 1| of any conventional type, the driven or output side of the gear being the chain sprocket 13. The reverse mechanism illustrated has forward, neutral and reverse conditions of operation which may be selectively attained by means of the gear shifting lever 15 connected by link 16, .bell crank 11 and link 18. The forward and reverse transmission and the controls therefor may conveniently be of the type illustrated in Speiser Patent 2,299,859, of which the present invention is an improvement. The drive mechanism need not therefore be further described, it being sufficient to note that the drive sprocket 13 may be caused to operate in the forward or reverse direction at will, so as to propel the chain 14.

The chain 14 extends over the driving sprocket of a differential gear 89 mounted upon shaft 8| which is journaled in the frame side members 82 and 33, Figure 13. The dual wheels |||2 and |3-l4 are mounted on shaft 8| and hence the transmission vehicle may be propelled forwardly or backwardly as desired, steering being accomplished as previously described by means of ythe movement of the trailing bogie 35.

The engine drive shaft 10 extends outwardly upon the gear box 1| where it is supported by a bearing post 84, and on the overhanging end of the shaft 1i) there is positioned a drive sprocket 85 which is driven through a clutch mechanism generally designated 81. The clutch mechanism may conveniently be of the type illustrated in Speiser Patent 2,299,859 and controlled as therein illustrated so as to provide for rotation of the game-'m drive sprocket At5 at the will of the operator. The drive `sprocket fat lserves te rotate the rotary reels or uother cutting elements of the mowing units hereinafter described.

.M owing unit A About the main drive vehicle there are positioned 'three "(3) mower units generally desighated A, B Vand C. The mower units are 'of genorally similar construction except so 'tar vas the power drive connection units are concerned, units B and C bei-ng an enantiomorphic pair, otherwise Aidentical. The mower units are preferably of the type shown vin Speiser Patent No. `372,300 `issued .March '527, '1945. `Since the mowing units are substantially identical except for their mountings and the position of` their drive sprockets, only one need be described.

"Each of the mowing units consists of Side vframe `plates @Il which are connected Vtogether by two or more intermediate frame members 91 and w9? and by the'knifebar 93. 'The frame members l and 9E are preferably o'f tu'bular steel and are attaclried solidly to 'the side plates 90.

Thekniffe bar E3 .is ,preferably made of steel plate,

grocved andbent along 'the groove so as to close thegrooves -and Yforma V-shaped bar, as illus- 4"tl'a'tec'l in -Spielset' Patent No. 2,372,300. The ends of the knli'fe bar terminate in plates 94 and the side plates of the lower unit rframe are provided with corresponding overlying plates 8b which are ysolidly welded 'to the :side 'frame members Bil. "Each ofthe .membersli (onteach of the mower side plates "90) is milled by means of a rotary cutter on 'its under side and the upper surface e of the plates 9|! extending 'from the ends ofthe knife bar are similarly milled to receive a solid disc of steel '95. 'Screws 9B and "99 pass Athrough the members 'S15 on the side plates and are threaded 'into the overlying members 94 on the knite bar, thereby clamping Vthe two plates 9B and *15 upon the circular rdisc "95. )The disc :oompletely Aprevents endwise .movement .of the vknife bar 'with respect to `the side plates, and yet the knife bar is rotatable .about 'the axis of disc 96 a Center 'for adjustment off the bed knife '51. mower -unit provided with multiple-blade rotary reel IM which is iournaled in bearing blocks lill and "W2 as illustrated in Speiser Ratent sNo. '2,372L300. The 'reel shaft lilo extends at the right band side of mower units A and C and at the *left-handelde of mower unit B. Upon the `extending "ends di fthe reel shaft of each mower there is provided a drive sprocket or V- beltpiil-ley. the sprocket |93 being illustrated for `mower unit A fIf desired, the `drive sprocket (or V2-belt pulley) mayvbeprovided with a builtin :overload h'cli`i`t`c`h, as described 'in Patent No. 123372,'300-so as to provide "for slippage lo-"the reel with respect 'to thefdrive inthe event the rotary reel yencounters an obstruction.

"The mower unit A 'is provided with a ground roller as `-illus'trated at il-D' which is preferably made adjustable in ithe vertical direction by means foi `slotted bearing support plates |-06A attached `|;'o:t"ne mower 'side frames'by bolts WEB as l'illnstrated fin Figure 1l, and is provided with 'a :shield l M over the rotary reel fand with `front side `guards tot. The latt'erserve to protect the lforward 'portion of `the rotary reel against flying stones andthe like. The guard |03 is 'attached by `means :of bolts WBA "and conveniently removable.

Mower unit iis `attached to the iframe by means :ci :sa threeepointf-articulfaited parallel flink- 6 age. The upper central point of connection 11s a ball and socket ioint |`|=|l 'at the upper central part -'off mower unit The -ball joint socket lfm 4`vis attached to fthe mower `cross fframe member by means of -a bolt MYI, Figure 2, and into the socket WFD there *extends a ball H2` that is carried upon a forward 'tong-ue ='|1l'3 of the 'U- fframegenerally designated l'd. The U- frame has a "liront forward piece |15 vand is vbent so as to `provide parallel *rearwardly extending side armsilt't and -ft T7 thatare 'pivoted'tothe side trarne pie-ees :21| and ,22 lci the vehicle .trame by means of. bolts H8 and IIS. Upon the front forward piece |115 there are provided fa pair of adiustably mounted limit stops 'that are posi- -ti'oned so `as 'to yengage upon the rear `portion or tb hield im?! oi sthemower lunit when the `mower unit iis elevated `to its uppermost position, `as herona-iter described.

Each `of 'the downward'ly lextending members 82 zand T853 of the `main `frame, Figure 13, fis lproxridediwith ball pivots |32 and 123, whichserve as points "offattachment ifor the socket en'ds fof the sideradins rods |24 and |25. 'The front lends of these :rods are fastened to th'eb'all joints |26 and @1127, Figure i9, on the side iframes 90 fo'fthe mower unit rl. The radins rods |"2'4 are preferably "tubular 'and :are procided'at each rend lwith rubber- .lined "ball sockets in which the ball joints are clasped, irl'lu'sltrated bythe rubber `lined socket ilatlgliigure 1D.

The weight of the 'mowerunit A is carried by means `lof a spring mounting 4device generally 'designated |36, Figures `2., 9., .11, 12 and 13 which consists of an angularly bent bracket |3| fastened to the traction vehicle 2frame members 2'0 and 22 by means of rivets or 'bolts 1532. 'To the frame 'IBD there is 'welded a rvertical "link of pipe `|33 which is screw threaded for a considerable distance 1at itsupper end to receive a ycorrespondimg threaded cap 1M. "Within the vvpipe '|33 there is a coiled compression spring 135 which is forced against theunder side of vcap |34. At the lower en -dof thelspring |35 there is provided a thimble f l"|36 yhavinga lower 'flange :fl-37| which rests against thebettom end o'f the spring. The thimble 'has a diameter such that 'it yextends freely vinto the spring V35 'and "is inwardly flanged at its upper end to 'receive and hold 'the hardened steel button "lt-"F8 which'is l'centered in fthe thimble and held vby thet'ip '|39 oifthe button passing through a hole infthe toppie-the thimble. Against the button I 38 there `projects a post Illll or column which is rounded-'atits upper and lower ends `and is suitably hardened, The "bottom end of the post "is positioned Yin-a hardened 'steel button UH that is 'set-in A"the short 'end "|122` 'of a lever generally designatedilw?. "Th'elever |43 is journaledon needle bearings |44 on a shaft |45 that extends from the Uoraket `f`|3l| to an outer brace |48 that is welded lto the 'lower -fendof pipe 13'3. The shaft 1Mb is `so 'positioned rthat the lever arm |43 extends `at an angle, Figure "9, `so 'that its long end 1'49 'terminates practically above the outer end of tongue |13 von the iu-s'haped mower mounting frame l |4. A pair of clevislinks coupled together asillustrated at i) serve to connect the long end i149 of Athe leverfMB'to the tongue H3. The screw cap 4134 onthe springmounting, Figure 12, is deep 'and fis fthreaded throughout a `suiicient length thatitlcanbe Iscrewed `down or up to adjust the 'compression fof 'spring *|315 and hence the lifting rorce exerted fthro'ugih `the lclevis coupling |59 4uponl'fongue` N3. In this A'way `any desired fraction =of "the weight-'oi the mower unit A `may be transferred to the spring lift |30, a small portion of the weight of thel mower unit being supported upon the ground roller |06. The amount of weight n the ground roller is suilcient that the mower unit does not bounce but readily follows the undulations of the turf over which the machine is propelled. It may be pointed out that the mower unit A has freedom of transxlatory movement in the vertical manner and also has a limited tipping movement from side to side due to the three-point ball connection afforded by the U-shaped frame 4 and the radius rods |24 and |25.

To the tongue |3 there is attached a link chain |52 which passes over pulley |53 that is mounted upon a bracket |54 attached to the bracket 6| on the vehicle frame. The chain |52 extends rearwardly and over the frame members 23 and 25 and thence through link |55 to lever |56 that is pivoted at |51 upon the rearwardly extending frame member 28. The lever |56 may be swung from the forward position shown in full lines in Figure 11 in which the chain |52 is slack and hangs down as illustrated at |59 to the dotted line position likewise illustrated in Figure 11. When in the dotted line position the link 55 and chain |52 are pulled taut and mower unit A is lifted to the dotted line position. In this position the mower unit is elevated well above grasscutting position. It may be noted parenthetically that the lever |56 is self-locking in the central position shown in dotted lines in Figure 1.1 and therefore does not require a. catch or detent.

Mower units B and C The lateral mower units B and C are not coupled directly to the traction and transport vehicle but are instead carried by a sub-frame member generally designated |60, the .details of which are best illustrated in Figure 14. The sub-.frame member consists of a front tubular bar |6| having upright pieces |62 and |63 attached thereto, at the upper ends of which there are attached side pieces |64 and |65 which are preferably made of lsquare steel tubing. An intermediate frame piece |68 is attached to the rearwardly extending ends of the side frames |64 and |65 which serves to stiffen the unit. Upon the front upper portion of the side pieces |64 and |65 there is attached a tube which not only serves as a frame member but also serves as means for supporting a pair yof journals one in each end of the tube in which the sub-frame counter-shaft |14 is rotatably mounted. The shaft |14 carries a pair of V-type pulleys |16 and |11 and the one end carries a chain sprocket shown in the dotted lines at |19, Figure 1. The sprocket is positioned so as to be in alignment with the chain drive sprocket 85 on shaft 10.

The outer ends of the tubular member IBI are provi-ded with ball joints |80 and |8|, and at the middle of the rear cross frame member |68 there are holes |83 to which a ball joint socket is fastened, as hereinafter described. The sub-:frame assembly |60 is supported by means of a threepoint suspension as follows:

The upper rear-center support for the subframe |60 is provided by a V-shaped radius rod generally designated |85, Figures '1 and 8, consisting of two tubular members |86 and |81 that are welded to a rear plate |88. At the center of the plate there is a rearwardly extending shaft |89 terminating in a ball that is fitted into a ball socket |90. The shaft |89, Figure 8, is provided with screw threads and is held to the plate |88 by a pair of nuts |9| and |92 which allow for fore and aft adjustment of the pivot |89 and for the ball at its end. The ball on the pivot |69 is recessed in the ball socket |90 that is in turn held upon the rear cross frame member |68 by means of the bolts |93. On the front ends of each of the tubular members 86 and |81 there are ball `sockets |96 and |91, respectively, into which there are received a pair of ball joints |98 and |99 mounted upon the upstanding angularly disposed brackets 200 and 20| on member 24, Figures 7, 8 and 13.

. To the ball joint atV the front right-hand side of the sub-frame |60 there is attached a lower radius rod 202, Figures 1, 3 and '7, which is provided at each end with a ball socket as indicated at 203 and 204. The socket 203 is clamped upon ball joint |80 of the sub-frame, and the socket 204 is clamped upon a ball joint 205, Figure 13, on the downwardly extending frame member 82 of the transport vehicle frame. In the same manner the left-hand ball |6| on the cross frame member |6| of the sub-frame is recessed in a ball socket 201 on the rear end of the left-hand radius rod 266. The front end of the left radius rod 206 is likewise provided with ball socket 208 which receives and is clamped upon the ball 269 in the lift frame piece 83 which extends downwardly from the vehicle frame member It will thus be observed that the sub-frame is provided with a vertical translatory motion by means of the parallel action of the lower radius rods 202 and 206 and the V-shaped upper radius rod |85. At the same time the subframe is permitted a limited tipping motion due to the three-point suspension and the ball linkages on the radius rods.

At the right-hand side of the sub-frame 60, Figure 14, there are sidewardly extending mower mounting brackets 2|0 and 2|| which have at their ends aligned threaded apertures 2|2 and 2|3 for receiving and supporting mower unit B. The brackets 2|0 and 2|| are welded to the side frame members |64 of the sub-frame. In the same manner from the left-hand side frame member |65 of the sub-frame there extend brackets 2 |4 and 2 I5 which likewise, have aligned apertures at 2|6 and 2|1 to receive and support the mower unit C'. Since the supports of mower units B and C' are similar, only one need be described.

Referring to Figure 7 it will be observed that the bracket 2|0 is provided with a rearwardly extending stub shaft 2 |8 that is threaded into the aperture in member 2|0 and is locked in place by means of the nut 2|9. Similarly the bracket 2| is provided with a rearwardly extending shaft 220 axially aligned with the shaft 2|8, and likewise threaded into the aperture in the bracket 2|| and locked in place by the nut 22|. From the inner side plate of mower unit B there extend a pair of brackets 222 and 223 each of which is apertured and bushed, Figure 11, so as to slide onto the stub shafts 2|8 and 220. The stub shafts are of suilicient length so that space is allowed for the insertion of a spring 224 between the sub-frame bracket 2|0 and the lower side plate bracket 222. The spring 224 may optionally be included between the sub-frame side bracket 2H and the lower side plate bracket 223. if desired, or springs may be included at both places. A cotter pin which limits the rearward motion of the mower unit B on the stub shafts 2|8 and 220 is provided at the rear end of shaft 2| 8 as indicated at 225. The eiect of this mounting is to permit the mower -unit B` to slide back and forth as indicated by the double arrow 226. so as to maintain uniform tension on the V-belt 2211-. Belt 22'!` runs over V-belt pulley |11 of the sub-frame counter-shaft to the V-belt pulley 228 on` the` reel shaft 239` of mower unit` B. Mower unit. B swings up and down in a vertical plane perpendicular to the axis of shafts 2|8 and 22|] inconformance with ground irregularities and in so: doing would cause an irregular belt tension upon the V-belt 221 were not the sliding of `the mower unit B permitted. As it is, the spring 224 maintains the belt tension constant; the mower unit` slides back and forth on pins 2li! and 2,25. The top of the V-belt pulley 228 is substantially level with the axis of stub shafts 2 I8 and 22B and the bottom of the driving pulley |11 on the sub-frame is likewise so aligned. By this alignment satisfactory power transmission from the sub-frame to the reel shaft is insured as explained in` detail` in` Speiser Patent 2,299,859J even. though the mower unit is swung to the vertical position. It may be noted parenthetically that in the Speiser Patent 2,299,859 the belts driving the 'tying mower were taken off when the wing mower units are lifted inasmuch as an automatic belt` tensioning device is not there included. By including the automatic belt tensioning device of `the present invention, it is possible to have rotation of the swing mower unit reels even when they are in the vertical position, for hedge trimming etc. The mounting of wing mower C is similar to that for wing mower B and power is transferred thereto from pulley l'i through V-belt 23| to` the` V-belt pulley 232 on the reel shaft 233 of the mower unit C in the same manner as described with reference to mower unit B. Each of the wing mowers B and C' is provided with a ground roller as illustrated at 23.4 for mower unit B and 235 for mower unit C and the ground roller `serves to support a small fraction of the weight of the unit. A major portion of the` weight of the wing mower units is transferred to` the sub-frame by a spring suspension generally designated 244 as follows:

Qn the sub-frame there are provided upstand- ,ing` brackets 235 and 231 as illustrated in Figures 3 and 14, which are apertured at the topl to receive chains 233` and 239.` respectively. The chain `23.8. is coupled` to a spring 240, the outer end of which is in turn coupled to bracket 24| on the cross frame member 242 of mower unit B. Similarly, the chain 239is coupled to a spring 243 which is in turn coupled to mower unit C. In this manner, when the mower units B and C are in the down position, a portion of their weight is transferred to the brackets 236 and 23'!` and from the brackets to the sub-frame. An addition-al part of the weight is transferred through the pivotal mountings afforded by the stub shafts 2 I8 and 220 of mower unit B and the corresponding stub shaft mountings for mower unit C.

The weight of the combined unit consisting of the sub-frame |50 and mower units B and C, eX- cept `for the small fraction of the weight carried by the ground rollers 234 and 235 of the mower units, is carried by means of spring and lever linkages best illustrated in Figure l0. This linkage is similar to the `unit |39 described with reference to the front mower A and consists of a tube 29 which is formed integrally with the frame member 28 of the machine. The tube `29` is threaded at its upper end and is provided with a cap 245 andgserves to form an abutment for the upper endy of a compression spring 241. The f 1:0 spring is forced upwardly by means of a thimble 248 having outwardly extending flange 249 which bears against the lower part of the spring. The diameter ofthe thimble is such that it. clears the internal diameter of. the spring 2&5 and the thimble is` closed at its upper end except for a hole 25|! which serves to locate a hardened steel bearing button 25|; The post `252 is rounded` at both ends and' thel upper end is forced against button 25|, the, lower end being seated inV a corresponding hardened steel. button 254' which is located in the short end 252i of a` lever generally designated lever is supported on needle bearings 251i' which are in` turn. mounted upon shaft 258, the. shafltbeing carried by downwardly extending frame pieces 259 that are formed integrally with frame member 2:8' of `the traction Vehicle. The lever 25E is preferably curved upwardly at fili so as to provide clearance for the operators feet onthe foot rest `dil- 5t and is then curved downwardly at 262 and terminates in the clevis bolt 2.53. A chain `264 is attached to the clevis 253 and is wrapped aroundthe tubular frame member Il@ of the sub-frame where it is hooked at its.. it will 'se notes marin me fou im@ position shown in Figure I0, which represents a low position, the direction of pull on' chain 264 is sighting.. rather than vertical, whereas when the lever 25B is in its uppermost position as indicated by the. dotted lines, the sub-frame has moved arcuately due. to the length vand position of radius rods 282 and `Elli and the radius rods |85, until the member i'iii' is `in 'such a position that the chain Rfid isV nearly vertical'. This change from slanting` pull to vertical pull from low to high positions `serves to compensate for the decrease in the force of the spring 241 from the low to the high position. When the spring force is least the pull is direct, `when the 'spring pull is most, the pull is at an angle and is therefore coinpensated.

A modified form of connection link between the end 262" of the lever `25|:` and the sub-frame |60 is illustrated Ain Figure 1'?. In this modification the liever 25S is terminated at its `straigl'it portion and the chain .26.4" is connected to a protuberance 26B which is welded to `and extends backwardly from the sub-frame cross member [6]. This form `of connection may be utilized wherever it is desired to centralize the lifting force imposed by the lever v2% in respect to the weight of the sub-frame and mower assembly so as to minimize any tendency of the sub-frame |60 to be tipped bythe ,lifting force of chain 26d.

A further modified form of connection is` illus- `trated inyFigure `1.8 wherein the. lever 262 is connected by the nearly vertical chain 2&4" which is extended straight Adownw,ardly and wrapped `around the sub-frame cross member |6| and hooked,`as` indicated atthe hook 2 5.5

,'llhe formof lifting device illustrated at |30 for mower unit. A and the similar lifting devi-ce `24.4, for thawing mower unitsB andC and subframe, |69, provides a much more uniform lift of the mowerunits as compared with the apparatus illustrated in Speiser Patent, 2,299,859, due to the multiplying effect `of the lever |4,3v (for mower unit A) ,and lever-.2156. (for mower units `IB and C).

`The force multiplication of the levers provides a uniformity of springforce equivalent to that aordedby la direct. acting `spring 2 5 or 26 feet in length, and` therefore throughout the range of up. andddwnmovementof the `mower units, the lifting force. thereon is substantially uniform. This `permits a uniform ground pressure on the Vin place and held immovable.

ll ground rolls of the mower units and obviates bouncing even at high speeds of operation.

The lifting of wing mower units B and C from the drivers seat and the lifting of the sub-frame concurrently with the upward swinging movement of the mower units B and C is provided by the apparatus best illustrated in Figures 3 6. On each of the mower units B and C, there are mounted operator reach handles generally designated 210 which are identical. The reach handle consists of a rod 21| formed with a T-shaped hand grip 212 at its outer end, the hand grip part 212 being curved to follow a segment of a circle having a radius equal to the length of the handle to its pivotal mounting. The rod 21| terminates Vin a clevis 213 which is pivotally mounted upon the eye bolt 214, thereby allowing the handle 21| to be swung toward or away from the body of the mower unit. The eye bolt 214 is in turn pivotally mounted in the mower cross frame member 242 and is held in place by means of nut 215. The mower cross frame member is provided with a tubular side extension 2.42', as shown in Figure 6, so as to provide adequate bearing support for the eye bolt 214 which therefore neatly rotates in the journal formed at 242'. A torsion spring 218 of a diameter such that it loosely circumscribes the tubular side piece 242', and after several turns therearound, one end of the spring is solidly fastened by means of the stud 216. The

opposite end of the spring is curved as illustrated at 211 so as to wrap around the side nib 214 of the eye bolt. The torsion spring 218 is so tensioned as to cause the reach handle 210 to be urged in the direction of arrow 219. In line with the hand grip 212 of the reach handle there is provided a second eye bolt 280 which is likewise bolted through the mower unit cross frame member 242. In mowing position it is desired to have the rea-ch handle 210 out of the way and solidly locked to the mower unit B. This is accomplished by the operator who arranges the handle 210 so that the end of the hand piece 212 enters through the eye of bolt 280 where it is held due to the torque of spring 218. When it is desired to lift the mower unit B, the operator may do so from his seat, by reaching down and releasing handle 210 from the eye bolt 280 and by pulling on the handle to raise the mower unit B to the position shown for mower unit C in Figure 3. When in this position the sub-frame |60 is elevated as hereinafter described, to a position such that the eye bolt 214 just clears the rubber pad 28| on the steering handle 53 and by swinging the handle 21| downwardly, as shown for mower unit C, and by locking the hand grip portion 212 into the eye bolt 280, the mower unit is locked Either mower unit B or C may be lifted in a. similar manner and locked in place against the fixed handle bar 53.

The lifting of the sub-frame |60 and the mower units B and C to a uniform elevation during transporting condition is accomplished by means of a curved arm 285 that is attached to the mower side plate 90, as shown in Figures 3 and 15. The arm 285 extends upwardly and across the line of the mower unit pivot pins 2|8 and 220 and terminates in an apertured end 28B to which a clevis'e 281 and chain 280 are attached. When in the mowing position, as illustrated for mower unit B (Figure 3), the chain 288 is slack, the upper end being fastened Ato a side arm 2819 eX- tending from the central frame member 28 of the traction unit. When the wing mower unit is elevated by the operator, as illustrated for mower unit C, the initial elevating movement serves to take up the slack in the chain 28B until it reaches the position shown at 288' for mower unit C. Thereafter additional swinging movement of the mower unit upward to the position shown for mower unit C does not change the elevation of the aperture at the end of arm 285 (illustrated at 285' for mower unit C) and the reaction force accordingly elevates the mower unit C and with it the end of the sub-frame |60 attached thereto. This insures accurate positioning of the mower unit C with reference to the handle bar 53 so as to allow easy locking of the mower unit into transporting position. When both wing mower units B and C are elevated the entire sub-frame is level and is at the height shown at the left end in Figure 3.

Power drive for the mower units The front mower unit A is provided with a sprocket |03 as previously described, which is aligned with the sprocket 85 on the motor power shaft. An aligned idler sprocket 290 is provided as shown in Figure l and is mounted on a pivot arm 29E that is normally pulled backwardly by means of the spring 292 so as to maintain uniform driving tension on the drive chain 293 which passes over the sprockets 85, idler 290 and the front mower sprocket |03. The chain also passes over a drive sprocket |19 on shaft |14 of the sub-frame. The front mower sprocket |03 is preferably provided with a guard housing |03' and the sub-frame sprocket |19 likewise provided with a housing |19' so as to guard against damage due to flying dirt, stones, and the like. The operation of the motor 60 therefore serves directly to drive the rotary cutting reel of mower unit A and serves to rotate the shaft |14 on subframe and through V-belt pulleys |16 and |11 on the sub-frame counter-shaft and V-belts 221 and 23| power is supplied to the reel shafts 230 and 233 of wing mower units B and C respectively. The drive to the three reel shafts may be interrupted at will by declutching the clutch 81.

Referring to Figures '7, 9 and 14 it will be noted that shaft |14 extends to the righthand side of the mower, and this extending end of the shaft, together with sprocket |19 and guard |19', Figure 1, constitute an unbalancing weight so that the complete sub-frame is not balanced about its longitudinal center line. This tends to cause the sub-frame |60 to ride low at its right-hand side, a tendency which is accentuated by the forces on drive chain 293, Figure l. As to the latter it has been discovered that the normal chain tightening tension imposed by spring 292 and pulley 290 is an additive force which adds to the force in that portion of the chain between sprockets |19 and |03 and also to that portion between sprockets |19 and 85, but percentagewise adds more to the former than to the latter. This also causes sprocket |19 to be pulled downward and the entire sub-frame |60 to move downward at the right end. To compensate this action, the ball support 204 is lowered below the position through which resultant of the chain pull forces acts and consequently there is produced an actual lift on the sprocket |19. This compensates for the extra weight at the right end of the subframe. Level operation of th' sub-frame and uniform following of ground contours by the wing mowers is therefore assured under all conditions of operation, even at high speeds.

As many apparently widely different embodiantimeri-l 1`3` ments of thisl invention. may be. made without departing `from the spirit and scope thereof, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to; the specific embodiments herein except as defined by the appended claims.

What I claims is:

l. A mowing machine comprising a traction vehicle, mower means connected to the vehicle for vertical movement relative thereto in conformance with` ground irregularities, and means for counterbalancing the mower means including a lever, said lever having its central portion pivotally connected to the frame so as to have a long end of said lever movable vertically over said mower means, a link connecting said long portion of `said lever and saidl mower means and a compression spring ntted between a stop on the frame and a point on the short end of said lever closely adjacent its pivotal mounting for yieldably forcing the long end of the lever upwardly thereby to sustain said mower means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that said link connecting the mower means and iever and said lever are proportioned and located so that said link moves from an inclined toward a vertical position as the spring stress decreases during mower lifting movement. 3. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that the connection between the lever and said compression spring includes a post extending into said compression springs and against al bearing that is connected to that end ofthe spring into which saidI post extends.

4i A mowing machine comprising a traction vehicle, having a power unit thereon, a plurality of mower unit means positioned with the mower units in spaced relation around said traction vehicle for cutting overlapping swaths, said mower unit means including a connection to the mower unit for vertical movement of the unit relative thereto while maintained in said overlapping swath cutting relation and a pulley and belt power connection between the traction power unit and each mower unit, each said mower unit including a ground engaging member for partially sustaining the weight of said unit, and spring counterbalance means for sustaining the units thereby to minimize the weight carried by the ground engaging member of each unit, including lever means pivotally mounted on the traction -f vehicle for each mower unit for movement of the lever means vertically, each said pivotal mounting being located midway between the ends of its associated lever so that a long portion of the lever means overhangs said mower unit means terized in that one mower unit is positioned in front of the traction vehicle to cut a central swath approximately as wide as the traction vehicle and side mowers are attached to the rear portion of said vehicle, one at each side thereof, said side mowers being mounted upon a sub-frame that is articulated with respect to the traction vehicle, and separate spring counterbalance means is provided for the front unit and for said sub-frame.

6. A. mowing machine comprising a traction vehicle, a mower supporting frame connected to 75 r4; said: vehicle for. vertical transl-atory movement relative to the vehicle, a mowing unit hingedly connected to said frame and extending outwardly therefrom for pivotal movement about said hinge,

, said mowing` unit being provided;` with an arm from the unit across the axis oi` said hinged connection, an inextensible flexible connection from said arm to the traction vehicle having` a length so as to be slack when the mowing unit` is in exf j tended position,` means` for lifting the mowing unit to an extent suiiicient to takel up` the slack of the flexible connection wherebyy the mower supporting frameis then lifted'.

7. A wing type articulated multiple mowing f A unit mowing machine comprising a; traction vetraction vehicle, a sub-frame positioned behind the traction vehicle and connected thereto by means of an articulated connection for vertical translatory movement of the sub-frame relative tothe traction: vehicle,v a pair ofv wing, mower units positioned so as to extend outwardly from each side of the sub-frame so.` as to` cut swaths overlapping that cut by the' front: mowing unit, said wing mower units each being hingedly connected to the sub-frame, each wing mower unit being` provided with a projection extending towards the sub-frame and across the axis of the hinged connection of the mower unit, a flexible normally slack inextensible` connection from the traction vehicle to each projection, means for elevating each wing mower unit arcuately about its hinged connection, said exible inextensible connections being of a length such that the slack is taken up and the sub-frame thereby elevated when the wing mower units are elevated arcuately beyond a predetermined angle.

8. In a mowing machine including a traction vehicle, a mower unit positioned so as to extend outwardly at one side of said traction vehicle, said mower unit being hingedly connected to the traction vehicle for arcuate elevating motion about the hinge as a center, the combination comprising a reach arm having one end pivotally connected to the mower unit and having an operator grip handle at its opposite normally free end, a detent on the mower unit for locking the normally free end of the reach arm in place along the top of the mower unit, a protrusion on the traction vehicle positioned so as to be below the pivotal connection of the reach arm to the mower unit when the latter is arcuately elevated whereby the reach arm may be passed over the protrusion and then locked to its detent for holding the mower unit in elevated position against said protrusion.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further characterized in that the reach arm is linked into an eye bolt on the mower unit, said eye bolt being pivotally mounted on the unit.

10i. The apparatus of claim 8 further characterized in that the reach arm is linked into an eye -bolt on the mower unit, said eye bolt being pivotally mounted on the unit, and spring means is provided for urging said eye bolt and hence the reach arm pivoted thereon in one direction thereby to hold the reach arm again its detent.

11. In a mowing machine including a traction vehicle having a laterally extending mowing unit hingedly connected thereto for upward swinging arcuate movement, the combination comprising an operator seat and steering handle on said 15v Y traction vehicle, saidmowing unit being provided with a lifting pull rod having one end shapedfor gripping by the operator and the other endconnected by means of a link to an outer part of the mower unit, said link connection of the rod to the lmower unit being aligned and located so as to swing to a position in line with but above the steering handle of the traction vehicle whenthe mower unit is moved arcuately upwardly, and a detent on the mower unit into which the operator grip end of the pull Yrod maybe detachably locked for restraining said rod against the mower unit when the mower unit is down in operating condition and with thesteering'handle between the rod and mower -unitfwhen the mower unit is raised to transporting condition.

12. In a mowing machine having a steering handle thereon, aYsub-frame mounted thereon for verticaland limited sideways tipping movement relative to said mowing machine, a pair of wing mower units, one mounted so as to extend laterally'otwardly from each side of the subframe and aligned with the steering handle and hingedly connected to the sub-frame for arcuate movement upwardY and downward about said hinged connection, lifting rods, the outer end of each rod being pivotally linked to the outer end of each mower unit, the inner end of each rod being formed withan operator grip handle, a detent for holding the rods'extending along the top of its mower unit when the latter is in operating condition, the link connections of each rod to its mower unit being positioned so as to be above the mower steering handle when the mower unit is elevated whereby each rod may be locked 16 over the steering handle and the rod then locked into its detent for holding itsA mower unit in elevated transporting position.

13. A mowing machine comprising a traction vehicle, a power shaft thereon, a rotary reel mowerrunit hingedly connected to the vehicle so as to extend outwardly therefrom with the reel axis inea vertical plane parallel to a vertical plane Ythrough said power shaft, a hinge connection between the mower unit and Vehicle, said hinge connection being slidable along the axis of the hinge, a pulley on the power shaft and an aligned pulley on the reel shaft, a belt over said pulleys and spring means operating in line with said hinge axis to force the mower unit away from the power shaft in the direction of the hinge axis for maintaining the belt tight in varying angular positions of the mower unit about the hinge axis.

ELMER B. MQCARTNEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of Ythis patent: Y

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

